National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda yesterday vowed to take legal action against those who might have helped fugitive monk Phra Dhammajayo flee Thailand to a European country as per unconfirmed reports.
"If we found out who helped him [Phra Dhammajayo] escape the country, no matter whether they are his disciples or state officials, they will be guilty of assisting a suspect in evading justice.
"And if they are police officers, they will be subject to disciplinary and criminal action," Pol Maj Gen Piyapan Pingmuang, deputy police spokesman, quoted Pol Gen Chakthip as saying yesterday.
Pol Maj Gen Piyapan was responding to an unconfirmed report that Phra Dhammajayo was smuggled out of Thailand by a group of his disciples.
The report of the monk's escape was disclosed by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Wednesday.
Citing sources, Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang, chief of the DSI, said on Wednesday the information has yet to be confirmed and the DSI plans to contact its counterparts in European countries to check on the report's validity.
Pol Col Paisit said yesterday the DSI has sought help from the Immigration Bureau to check if there is any record of Phra Dhammajayo leaving the country.
Pol Maj Gen Piyapan said the Royal Thai Police officials were ready to assist the DSI in its efforts to track down Phra Dhammajayo.
However, he added the DSI has the authority to seek any foreign country's help in arresting and deporting Phra Dhammajayo back to Thailand.
Phra Dhammajayo, the former abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, is wanted on charges of money-laundering and receiving stolen assets linked to the multi-billion-baht Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative (KCUC) scandal.
The DSI has been tracking alleged attempts to siphon money from the KCUC to several suspects via 878 cheques paid between 2009 and 2013 and some dubious asset purchases.
Pol Col Paisit added the four-party committee currently managing Wat Phra Dhammakaya after it was searched recently claimed the former abbot had not been at the temple for a long time.